- UCAS course code
- C856
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Body and Society
| Unit code | SOCY30142 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 20 |
| Unit level | Level 3 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
That we ‘have’ or perhaps rather ‘are’ bodies is one of the most obvious things about human beings and yet, as my hesitation over words (‘have’ or ‘are’?) suggests, it is also question-begging. This course is based around a number of the main interconnected questions that it begs, chiefly: what is the human body? What is the nature of our relationship to our own bodies (if relationship is even the right word)? And, what is the relationship of the body to wider society? These questions have a philosophical and theoretical aspect and early lectures explore this aspect. Fleshing out these theoretical bones, however, requires reflection upon empirical studies of such issues and social practices as obesity and bodybuilding, cosmetic surgery and tattoos. A large part of the course is devoted to just this. We consider a range of body-related issues and practices, drawing upon a range of different types of empirical data, from statistics to personal introspection via interviews, historical archives and ethnography, in an effort to make sense of this most obvious and yet most puzzling fact about ourselves: our embodiment.
Aims
Introduce students to different ways of understanding ‘the body’ and its significance in contemporary society.
Encourage students to engage with various debates, both theoretically and empirically motivated, about the nature of the human body.
Introduce students to a range of types of argument and evidence (theoretical and empirical) that can be used to address these debates.
Consider the impact of wider social divisions upon lived experience of embodiment.
Explore the various ways in which bodies are regulated and shaped in contemporary life
Learning outcomes
Student will be able to
- Identify and discuss a number of different theoretical/philosophical perspectives on human embodiment.
- Invoke and critically discuss a number of empirical studies relevant to these debates, drawing out their relevance.
- Refer to and critically engage with a range of different types of data in relation to these issues.
- Offer informed and reasoned arguments in response to key critical questions addressed on the course.
Teaching and learning methods
Lecture-style material will be delivered weekly through a mix of up to one hour pre-recorded (i.e. asynchronous) content and one hour live (i.e. synchronous) lecturer-led classes. Additionally, weekly one hour small-group tutorials will be delivered on-campus as long as government guidelines allow, otherwise they will be delivered online
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 50% |
| Written assignment (inc essay) | 50% |
Feedback methods
Informal feedback will be given on the non-assessed essay plan due before the essay, plus formal feedback will be given on the assessed essay.
Recommended reading
Body and Society (journal, available electronically via the library website)
Crossley, N. (2001) The Social Body, London, Sage.
Crossley, N. (2006) Reflexive Embodiment in Contemporary Society, Bucks, Open University Press.
Shilling, C. (2012) The Body and Social Theory, London, Sage.
Turner, B. (2008, 3rd edition) The Body and Society, London, Sage
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 30 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 170 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Nick Crossley | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
50% - 3000 word essay
50% - on-line, open book exam